hope&plum Around the House: Let Babywearing Help You Tackle Care Tasks

One of the wonderful benefits of babywearing is that it helps you get things done while also attending to the needs of your baby or toddler. Household tasks are a great time to multitask - chores and babywearing work so well together! Here are some ways to fit babywearing in around the house.

Anything that you’d feel safe doing while holding your baby should be safe while babywearing, with the added bonus of being mostly handsfree. Here is a non-exhaustive list of babywearing-safe tasks to get you started:

• Dusting

• Vacuuming

• Mopping

• Folding Laundry

• Raking

Hip and back carries are your household task besties! This means babywearing in ring slings, Larks, and meh dais. When baby is developmentally ready to graduate from a front carry, it allows you a little more mobility. That’s not to say you can’t do these household tasks while babywearing in a front carry in a stretchy wrap or another carrier. It just means you should be more mindful of baby’s positioning while babywearing and also engaged in other activities. Also, it’s important to give an infant additional head support with a free hand while bending over in a stretchy wrap, so double-handed care tasks while babywearing may not be as easy in that carrier.

Front carries are preferred, though, in any household tasks that you do while seated. Both baby and caregiver tend to be more comfortable in this position while seated and engaged in other activities like computer work or folding laundry while babywearing.

You should never wear your baby while using a lawn mower in any carrying position. There are just too many variables to consider to be a safe babywearing task.

The jury is still out on cooking while babywearing. If you choose to do this, choose a hip or back carry so baby is most out of the way of the stove. Be mindful of the types of things you’re cooking. Anything with the potential to pop oil or bubble over is probably best suited when you’re not wearing your baby. Don’t open your oven with baby in a front carry, especially it it’s gas-powered. And be aware of those little grabbing hands and kicking legs while you’re working over the stove.

If you’re cleaning with harsh chemicals, consider waiting for when baby is napping or safe with another caregiver. Always clean in a well-ventilated area and never mix chemicals.

Follow baby’s lead and your own body when it comes to comfort. Some babies are lulled to sleep by the sound of the vacuum, while others may find it scary. Maybe sitting to fold laundry does not work for you and baby because a foot is tucked under or a knee is poking you in the ribs. Maybe you’ve reached your comfortable carrying limit after dusting but before vacuuming. That’s okay! When possible, try to break care tasks into manageable pieces.